Catherine Cook

Chief Executive

I am mum to Peter Pan graduate Eddie, who is 10 years old and has Down’s syndrome and autism. When Eddie moved on to school in 2018, I didn’t want to leave the centre behind and was delighted to return as Fundraising and Communications Manager in early 2019. Now, as Chief Executive, I am honoured and proud to be able to bring my own experience to help families my own who are at the very start of their special needs journey.

I love my job! Leading the organisation means I have to keep lots of plates spinning and I am blessed to work alongside a fantastic, supportive team whose expertise is second to none. As a small charity, what we achieve with our level of resources is astounding. Each day is different. Sometimes I’m off to meet politicians and local VIPs, sometimes I’m pitching for funders. I might be supporting our Board of Trustees with strategy or I might be catching up with some of our brilliant local supporters or putting up event stands at our annual Golf Day. Because we are such a small team, sometime I am the IT, Finance or HR department. Whatever I am doing, throughout it all, I am driven to help as many children as possible to benefit from the Peter Pan experience, and prepare them for their next steps in education.

Catherine joined the Peter Pan Centre in January 2019

She has a Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership from Staffordshire University

Catherine’s son Eddie is very sensory seeking and loves messy play, meaning her weekends are often sand, water or mud-filled!